Pictured: Mike Ward with Kate Boulton, manager of Gym and Tonic

A man has shed an incredible 10 stone in just a year after joining a top Stafford gym.

Mike Ward, aged 25, weighed 26 stone 12lbs in September last year when he finally decided enough was enough and joined Gym and Tonic in Newport Road, Stafford.

The 6ft 3ins rugby player, from Coghlan Drive, Stafford, had piled on the pounds after stopping playing the sport when he was 17.

His weight ballooned on a diet of pizza and chips swilled down with beer and vodka Redbull on nights out with mates.

But in September of last year he decided to change his life forever and went down to Gym and Tonic to begin his amazing transformation.

Kate Boulton, manager at Gym and Tonic, placed him on a cardiovascular fitness programme geared to maximise his fat burning and get him fit and healthy.

Determined Mike dedicated as much as six days a week to the gym pushing himself to the limit under the guidance of Kate and Gym and Tonic's expert health and fitness staff. He also started cycling to and from his workplace at Screwfix every day totalling around 30 miles in a week.

As well as exercising he ditched fast food for healthy options including chicken, brown rice and wholewheat pasta. Instead of gulping down fizzy drinks he drank water. In just a month he lost one stone 7lbs and the weight just kept on coming off.

Now he is down to 16 stone 7lbs and has gone down from a 54inch waist to 38 inches. He has started to build muscle after being placed on a weights programme.

His uncle Brian Ward who was a champion Mr Olympia bodybuilder has also been offering advice to Mike as he continues to transform his body.

Mike said: "I wasn't really unhappy as some people who are very overweight are. But I just decided I had to change my life. My weight was increasing all the time and I had to consider my health.

"I decided to join Gym and Tonic as I had heard about its excellent reputation. I was given a programme which maximised the fat burning during my workouts ensuring I was working out in the perfect zone.

"The weight came off very quickly. In a month I had lost nearly a stone and a half. And it just kept coming off. Before exercising I felt sluggish where now I have so much energy to burn.

"Everyone at Gym and Tonic has been absolutely brilliant and have really helped me to achieve what I have done so far. The staff and other members are so friendly. Carl Davies who takes the circuits class I joined even helps to train me free of charge in his spare time and I am really grateful to him. My mother Janet has also been fantastic preparing my healthy meals.

"My uncle was a champion bodybuilder and has also been giving me advice. Now I have burned off the fat I am aiming to build muscle and take it from there. I still have a cheat meal though once a week which is usually a takeaway. You have to have your treats occasionally." 

Kate Boulton, gym manager at Gym and Tonic, said: "Mike's transformation in 12 months has been nothing less than remarkable and has been down to his dedication. We came up with a fitness programme to cater for his needs and to maximise his weight loss and increase his fitness. Now he has shed his excess fat he is looking to build muscle and change the shape of his body once again. He is an inspiration to other people who are overweight and want to change their lives for the better."

Mike even helped to raise £3,000 for charity by taking part in the Three Peakes challenge last June climbing Mount Snowdon, Scafell Pike and Ben Nevis in under 24 hours with workmates at Screwfix where he works as a desk clerk.

He now plans to carry out more fundraising for charity in the future.

And despite his weight loss he is still single but at the moment that's just how he likes it.

He added: "I am not really looking for love at the moment as I work and I am dedicated to getting my body in shape. But I will be ready when the time comes."